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HollyShorts Film Festival returns for its 20th edition with a star-studded lineup
The HollyShorts Film Festival is back, celebrating its 20th edition with a dazzling array of films and a star-studded lineup. This year, the festival has selected 400 films from over 6,000 entries, featuring works from renowned actors and directors such as Zoe Saldana, Bella Thorne, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
A diverse selection of films
The festival includes four Oscar-qualifying categories: documentary short film, best short film grand prize, best short animation, and best short live-action. This year’s live-action short film entries are particularly noteworthy, showcasing a variety of themes and styles.
- “How Can I Help You” directed by Eliza Scanlen and starring Thomasin McKenzie.
- “Dovecote” directed by Marco Perego and featuring Zoe Saldana. Watch the trailer
- “Dammi” starring Riz Ahmed and Isabelle Adjani. Watch the trailer
- “Summons” directed by Ken Cheng, starring Jimmy O. Yang and Alexandra Shipp. Watch the trailer
- “Midnight” from legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike. Watch the trailer
- “Sister Wives” directed by Louisa Connolly-Burnham, featuring Mia McKenna-Bruce. Watch the trailer
- “Hearts of Stone” with Noomi Rapace and Jessica Barden. Watch the trailer
- “French” directed by Dylan Joseph and produced by Kobi Mizrahi. Watch the trailer
- “Vlog” starring and directed by Yvonne Strahovski. Watch the trailer
- “Edge of Space” directed by Jean de Meuron. Watch the trailer
- “Burn Out” produced by Jamie Lee Curtis. Watch the trailer
- “Fall Risk” featuring Victoria Pedretti, directed by Alex Martini, and produced by Bella Thorne. Watch the trailer
- “Pretty Sad” directed by Jim Cummings. Watch the trailer
Documentary shorts: A window into reality
The documentary shorts category is equally compelling, offering a glimpse into various aspects of life and society.
- “Alok” directed by Alex Hedison and executive produced by Jodie Foster. Watch the trailer
- “Whitney Houston in Focus” directed by Benjamin Alfonsi. Watch the trailer
- “XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture” directed by Ferne Pearlstein and produced by Trevor Noah. Watch the trailer
More shorts to look out for
Other notable shorts set to appear at the festival include:
- “Unsettled” directed by Bella Thorne and featuring Chris Zylka. Watch the trailer
- “Concrete” directed by Eli Newman, starring Ed Harris and Sophia Ali. Watch the trailer
- “Fish Out of Water” directed by Francesca Scorsese. Watch the trailer
- “The Grievance” directed by Richie Keen, featuring Rosie O’Donnell. Watch the trailer
Introducing the sports category
For the first time, HollyShorts will also include a sports category, with NBA champion Metta World Peace joining as head judge. He has also produced a film, “With Love Charlie,” which will premiere on opening night. The sports category is led by producer Jessica Badawi and will include films such as:
- “Black Mark” from former NBA player Matt Barnes. Watch the trailer
- “The Syd & TP Show” with WNBA stars Theresa Plaisance and Sydney Colson. Watch the trailer
- “Life of Kai” featuring Kai Lenny, produced by Red Bull Media House. Watch the trailer
Festival details
The festival is set to take place from August 8-18 in Los Angeles at TCL Chinese Theatres and through the official festival streaming platform Bitpix. The awards gala will be held on August 18. The entire 2024 selection is available on YouTube from today, and the full list of official selections can be found at hollyshorts.com.
As the festival approaches, the anticipation builds, promising a celebration of creativity, storytelling, and cinematic excellence. The diverse lineup ensures that there is something for everyone, making this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival an event not to be missed.
